Useful Conventions
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Exclusion Cues Escape from 1NT X Taking out partner’s penalty double of 1NT Bidding over 2NT Bidding over 1NT Minor suit slam bidding after 1NT Low level penalty redoubles |
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BRIDGE, 7/82 p270. Many applications, eg
Asks for losers in the bid suit or opponents’ suit.
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Alan Truscott, BRIDGE, 4/82 p123. 2§ = exactly 4 clubs XX - 2§ - P = 5+ clubs XX - 2§ - 2x = 2 four card suits. The advantage over SWINE is that you are now able to play 1NT doubled if you wish. With SWINE you must play Redoubled. |
Taking out partner’s penalty double of 1NT
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Marc Smith, BRIDGE 2/86 p70. 1NT - X - P - ? 2§ = any weak single suit 2¨ = any weak two suiter 2© = GI two suiter, not spades (2ª relay) 2NT = minors 3§/¨ = hearts + minor 2ª = GI spades + other 2NT = strong single suit 3X = natural invitational. |
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Jeremy Flint, BRIDGE 4/83 p146. Responses
3§ = multi
3¨/© = transfer
3ª = multi
3NT = moderate 5-5 minors
2NT - 3§
3¨ = no major OR flat major OR 4-4 with diamonds
3© = hearts and clubs
3ª = spades and clubs
3NT = 3334 or 3325
4§ = majors, minimum
4¨ = majors, good controls (7+)
4© = majors, maximum points
Notice that all bids from 3© to 3NT show §, and all bids over 3NT show both majors. 3¨ is basically natural. 2NT - 3§ - 3¨ - 3© (natural)
3ª = 4333, 4243, 4342
3NT = no major
4§ = © and ¨ **
4© = 3433
2NT - 3§ - 3¨ - 3ª (natural)
4§ = ª and ¨ **
** Note that the 4§ bid shows support and ¨, allowing partner to bid 4¨ control ask (4©=5). 2NT - 3§ - 3¨ - 3NT = 54xx. 2NT - 3ª - 3NT
4§/¨ = invitational
4© = xx45
4ª = xx54
4NT = good 5-5 minors.
Sample auctions: AJTx,AJxx,AJ,AJx - KQxx,KQxxx,xx,Kx
2NT - 3§ - 4¨ - 4NT - 5¨ - 7ª
* 4NT asks for controls after 4¨
Kx,Axxx,AKx,AQxx - QJxx,x,xxx,KJxxx
2NT - 3§ - 3©...
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Responses:
2§ = multi.
2¨ = relay.
2©/ª = 4 card suits, invitational, could be canape.
3§ = 4 §, longer ©.
3¨ = 4 ¨, longer ©.
3©/ª = 4 card suits, forcing.
1NT - 2¨ - ?
2© = colour or flat major (flat,3442,4324...)
2ª = rank or flat minor (flat,4432,4423...)
2NT = shape (4342,3424,4243,2434)
3§ = xx5x
3¨ = 3325
3© = 3235
3ª = 2335
3NT = ??
1NT - 2§ - 2¨
2x = weak single suit
2NT = weak § OR ??
3§ = 4 §, longer ª
3¨ = 4 ¨, longer ª
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Minor suit slam bidding after 1NT
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Bid 2§ with any balanced slam try. 1NT - 2§ - 2X - 3§/¨ = 4 card slam try. Opener will
(a) cue bid with support - 3© or higher
(b) bid 3NT - no minor fit
(c) bid 3¨ over 3§ with 4+¨.
Other 2§ auctions:
1NT - 2§ - 2¨ - 2M is 5 card invite.
1NT - 2§ - 2¨ - 3© is 5-5 majors invite.
1NT - 2§ - 2¨ - 3ª is 5-5 majors GF.
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Ed Mansfield, Bridge World 4/82 p9. When partner opens and RHO doubles, redouble only with good defense against all but one of their suits. With good flat hands, PASS. Examples: Redouble one club on KT9x - xx - AJ87 - Kxx. Redouble one diamond on QT54 - xx - Qxx - AQ72. If they bid hearts on these hands, partner knows you are likely to be short. If they bid one of your suits and you double, partner does not have to contend with the possibilty that you have Qxx or xxx in the suit. This helps with constructive bidding as well. In the auction: 1§ X XX 1ª P 2ª P P ? opener, holding xx - Qxxx - AK3 - Axxx, can bid 3© non-forcing, because responder is marked with four hearts. The same logic applies to 1ª - 2NT - X, analogous to 1§ - X - XX. Also 1ª P 4ª 4NT P 5§ P P X, opener would double 4NT with a penalty hand, so pass followed by double shows a more flexible hand. 1© P 2© P P X P 2ª P P X, doubler has a balanced maximum. With four spades he redoubles 2©. There are many other uses of this concept in the article. |